You spent your whole life winning At least now learn to lose, O fakir
In your sky-dome is an upside-down well Full of the nectar of life!
If you’re headed north, be alert Tell everybody you’re headed south! Lovers delight in this wine’s secret What will a dry heart understand?
I’m rolling about in these waves I don’t know how to swim Take me across…
I ate your fruit, I soiled your leaves I played from branch to branch You burn, and I fly away? You live and love but once!
I burnt down my house, yogi I took up the flaming torch If you scorch your own house, yogi Then join me on this walk
How frail your body, how false your world How untrue the account you give of it O Raam, dear Raam Pray tell, do tell Who fabricated your frail body?
Sweetheart, dear girl Wake up your beloved He sleeps a deep, forgetful sleep Shake him awake!
Khusro says, the river of love Flows in strange ways One who escapes, drowns One who drowns is saved
Kabir, this boat is wobbly And the boatmen are inept They got across who were light The heavy ones drowned
In the forest of this love, a peacock calls out My love is more beautiful than any holy place He wounded me, then forgot all about me
Fearlessly, I'll sing The praises of the formless Reality beyond description
